IPOH: Barisan Nasional will seek to provide the Election Commission (EC) with its views on a suitable date for the Ayer Kuning by-election, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said several events would take place within the next two months and hoped that the EC would decide on a suitable date for the nomination and polling dates.
"A by-election must be held within 60 days after a vacancy notice has been received by the EC.
"Next month, will be the puasa (fasting) month, then Hari Raya Aidilfitri," he said at a press conference after visiting Rozlita Abdullah, the wife of the late Ayer Kuning assemblyman Ishsam Shahruddin, at her home in Desa Seri Ampang here on Tuesday (Feb 25).
"The state legislative assembly is expected to be held between April 15 and 19," he said, adding that the Perak Speaker has already submitted the notice to the EC.
Ishsam, 58, passed away at the Penang Hospital on Saturday (Feb 22) after collapsing during a friendly football championship in George Town.
In the 2022 General Election, Ishsam polled 9,088 votes and won by a 2,213 majority, defeating Amanah's Mohd Nazri Hashim, Muhammad Noor Farid of PAS, KS Bawani from PSM, and Pejuang's Maziah Salim.
On the early groundwork for the by-election, Ahmad Zahid said it was still too early to discuss, as Ishsam's passing was just three days earlier.
"I will let the Perak Mentri Besar and the state Barisan Nasional and Umno committees handle it," said the Umno president.
